By Two Muslim women were rushed to the hospital after being stabbed by two French women near Eifel tower on October 21, 2020.
Kenza and Amel were walking with family members, including two kids, near the Eifel Tower when two French women stabbed them while attempting to take off their hijabs and calling them racial slurs. The two were charged on Wednesday with assault aggravated by the use of a weapon, drunkenness, and racial insults working together. The victims’ lawyer is requesting a stronger charge against the French women because he believes this was attempted murder due to the victims’ race and religion.
Islamophobia has been an ongoing issue in France and the Muslim community has been suffering from constant bullying, fear, harassment, and discrimination because of their identity and religion.
During this time, Muslims in France continue to be vigilant in taking necessary precautions to ensure safety for themselves and their family members.
This incident comes after a French teacher was killed and beheaded by an 18-year-old Chechen man. According to reports, the teacher showed his class cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that were originally published in the infamous Charlie Hebdo magazine, and then mocked the prophet (PBUH), making fun of Islam, which is reported to have angered many Muslims in the community. Soon after, a 18-year-old man killed and beheaded the teacher. Muslims in France and abroad have condemned the brutal killing of the teacher.
During this time, Muslims in France continue to be vigilant in taking necessary precautions to ensure safety for themselves and their family members. This attack on two innocent Muslim women because of the act of another is not a new phenomenon in hate crimes, as growing hate crimes continue to be on the rise everywhere, but especially in France. The media must take responsibility on how their news coverage is presented in order to not perpetuate Islamophobic attacks on innocent citizens.
People on social media are speaking up about the news coverage as well.
“It’s tragic that a man lost his life, but attacking innocent Muslim women as revenge is not the answer. The media and French authors must do a better job at not adding fuel to the flames of hatred,” stated one post on Facebook.